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Laura Leslie

@lauraleslie.bsky.social

NC politics reporter, cat/dog/fish mom, saltwater reefer, birder, gardener, puzzle nerd. If found, please return to the nearest beach.

2,596 Followers  |  267 Following  |  141 Posts  |  Joined: 01.07.2023
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Posts by Laura Leslie (@lauraleslie.bsky.social)

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NC Senate Leader Phil Berger trails Sam Page by 5 points in latest primary poll β€’ NC Newsline The most powerful Republican in the North Carolina Senate is trailing his 2026 primary opponent by 5 points in a poll released Tuesday.

The most powerful Republican in the North Carolina Senate is trailing his 2026 primary opponent by 5 points in a poll released Tuesday, less than two months away from the March 3 contest. ncnewsline.com/2026/01/20/n... By @kingdollar.bsky.social #ncpol #nc

21.01.2026 00:33 β€” πŸ‘ 26    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 5

This is Luna. She’s one of two kittens (now teenagers) we acquired last summer.

07.01.2026 00:49 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image 07.01.2026 00:47 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

This is why working at home isn’t going well these days:
Write sentence.
Remove cat from keyboard.
Write another sentence.
Remove cat again.

07.01.2026 00:46 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Federal court allows Republican-led North Carolina redistricting plan to proceed β€’ NC Newsline North Carolina Republicans prevailed on a preliminary injunction that would have blocked a 2026 congressional map redrawn to favor the GOP.

By @kingdollar.bsky.social - a panel of 3 GOP
appointed federal
judges rule late Wednesday that even though NC’s new congressional map has a β€œdisparate impact” on Black voters, it’s not racial gerrymandering. #ncpol ncnewsline.com/2025/11/26/f...

27.11.2025 00:51 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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Former Wake Forest trainer sues NC congressman for libel over Charlie Kirk posts β€’ NC Newsline A former Wake Forest University trainer is suing Rep. Pat Harrigan for more than $75,000 after he said she was fired for comments about Charlie Kirk.

ncnewsline.com/briefs/forme...

07.10.2025 00:27 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Home β€’ NC Newsline

We had a lot of great #ncpol and #ncga content today over at NC Newsline. Stop by and check us out - and sign up for the AM newsletter to get our roundup in your inbox every morning!

ncnewsline.com

01.10.2025 23:02 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

#breaking #ncpol

01.10.2025 21:08 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

After a welcome break from #ncpol news, I'm back Monday, y'all. Really looking forward to working with @galenb.bsky.social, @lbonner.bsky.social, @gchildress.bsky.social, @chenkel.bsky.social and the rest of the crew at @ncnewsline.com! #ncga

26.09.2025 03:36 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you so much, Barry. That means a lot.

26.09.2025 03:30 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

You're way too kind, Galen.

26.09.2025 03:29 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you, John!

26.09.2025 03:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you!

26.09.2025 03:27 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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NC State turtle rescue team lobbies for special license plate Would you shell out a few extra bucks every year to help rescue wild turtles? A bill in the state legislature would create a special license plate that would provide funding for the Turtle Rescue Team...

Tonight’s story was fun, but wild turtles do face serious issues in places like NC that are growing quickly. www.wral.com/story/nc-sta...

03.07.2025 23:58 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

When you say unironically oh hey it's only 94

28.06.2025 01:19 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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State lawmakers question Helene relief leaders about political donations, alleging cronyism Has pay-to-play politics found its way into Hurricane Helene relief? That was the question state lawmakers posed to Helene recovery leaders at a combative oversight hearing Thursday.

Tonight's story.

22.05.2025 23:54 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Never thought I'd see SC in need of a mercy rule, but dang, UConn.

06.04.2025 21:09 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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RFK Jr. says 20% of health agency layoffs could be mistakes Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the CDC's lead poisoning program will be reinstated.

And back at HHS... I can't imagine how much money cutting and then un-cutting all these jobs is costing the federal government. And that doesn't even begin to account for the human costs.
www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...

04.04.2025 00:09 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Trump’s new tariff math looks a lot like ChatGPT’s ChatGPT may be the White House’s latest economic advisor.

Meantime, some GOP state lawmakers in NC want to use AI to evaluate state government efficiency. #ncpol www.theverge.com/news/642620/...

03.04.2025 23:35 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
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The struggle is real, y'all. Worst pollen season in over 20 years. Drought has made it worse.

30.03.2025 23:04 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 1

My spouse is a veterinarian. I do not disagree. But also, I know how much my dog loves to stick her head out the window. 95% of the time, she’s in a crate.

29.03.2025 23:59 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

She’s kind of a complicated character. Imagine a sophisticated Manhattan divorcee raised by a labrador retriever.

29.03.2025 02:57 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Driving with lapdog? Lawmakers want to fine NC drivers distracted by pets and kids A pair of state legislators introduced a bill that would create a $100 fine for drivers whose driving is impaired by distractions from pets or kids.

My dog Lola starred in my story today about an NC bill that would ban dogs from the driver's seat. Check her out - she did great! #ncpol #ncga
www.wral.com/story/drivin...

29.03.2025 01:24 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 1
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Here Are the Attack Plans That Trump’s Advisers Shared on Signal The administration has downplayed the importance of the text messages inadvertently sent to The Atlantic’s editor in chief.

I try not to break paywalls because it's how we journalists make a living.. but in this case, I'll make an exception because I think there's a strong public interest in showing people exactly what the Houthi PC texts said. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

26.03.2025 23:48 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Wooooo! NC lawmakers name-check famous pro wrestler Ric Flair in new bill A bipartisan bill filed in the North Carolina Senate Monday would earmark $500,000 to study the creation of a wrestling hall of fame museum in the state. They're calling it the "RIC FLAIR" Act.

Latest from #ncpol #ncga www.wral.com/story/wooooo...

24.03.2025 16:19 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

This is insanity.

24.03.2025 02:13 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I keep hearing this won't become the progressive version of the Tea Party, but I think the jury's still out on that one, tbh. That's a big crowd.

22.03.2025 00:38 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Work underway to remove asbestos at state legislature building Asbestos removal is underway at the state legislature with no notification to state lawmakers or visitors.

NC's legislative building, destination for hundreds of people and schoolkids every day, undergoes asbestos remediation with no public notice or warning to #ncga lawmakers. #ncpol www.wral.com/video/work-u...

20.03.2025 23:51 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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This man rates dogs for a living. He has millions of loyal followers. β€œThere are just so many dogs to talk about, and I could talk about them forever,” said Matt Nelson, who started WeRateDogs as a comedic experiment.

Gift article: WaPo writes about MY FAVORITE THING ON THE ENTIRE INTERNET. And there's even an NC connection! #tellyourdogIsaidhi
@weratedogs.com wapo.st/4ijrs7Y

20.03.2025 23:19 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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DHS official defends Mahmoud Khalil arrest, but offers few details on why it happened Homeland Security deputy secretary Troy Edgar offered few details on the Trump administration's legal reasoning to deport Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.

Here's the entire interview. It's worth a listen if you missed it. www.npr.org/2025/03/13/n...

14.03.2025 02:54 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0